Abstract

The nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK; nicotine derived nitrosamine ketone) is one of the strongest carcinogens in tobacco which is involved in induction of lung cancer by changing the stimulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and annexin A2 expression. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in resting levels of annexin A2 and VEGF in lung tissues of rats exposed NNK after 12 weeks of aerobic submaximal swimming training. For this purpose, 46 Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups consist of training, training + NNK, NNK, saline and control. NNK-induced groups received NNK subcutaneously one day per week at a rate of 12/5 mg per kg body weight and the training groups performed submaximal swimming training for 12 weeks. The levels of VEGF and annexin A2 in lung tissue were measured respectively by ELISA and immunohistochemistry. To analyze the data; ANOVA and Tukey's test were used at a significance level of p<0.05. Findings indicated that 12 weeks submaximal swimming training decreased the levels of VEGF and annexin A2 in lung tissue significantly when compared to NNK group (p<0.001). There was no significant correlation between VEGF and annexin A2 levels in all study groups (p≥0.05). Generally, it could be confirmed that regular submaximal aerobic training plays an important role in inhibition of the effects of lung inflammation induced by NNK via decreased levels of VEGF and annexin A2.

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